Work in National Socialism was not only economically important but also a means of control and exclusion. The Nazi regime demanded work as a “duty” towards the National Socialist “Volksgemeinschaft.” Those who did not fit into the system were excluded, disenfranchised, or forced into labor.
The exhibition “arbeit 1938–1945” shows how strongly the National Socialists intervened in labor relations – even in Carinthia. Companies were hierarchically restructured, workers were evaluated according to ideological criteria, and people from occupied territories were forced to work. Many had to work under inhumane conditions in agriculture or industry.
In six thematic areas, the exhibition explains how the National Socialist labor order functioned and what consequences it had for the people. Digital elements help engage with history and show memorial sites in Carinthia connected to the topic.
In the subsequent workshop, an image of education through or by work will be sketched using original sources. Together, we will explore the following questions: What interventions did the Nazi state make in the lives of our grandparents or great-grandparents when they were children or teenagers? How was their school day structured, and how did they spend their free time? What distinguishes the youth of the years 1938 to 1945 from today’s youth? What must we be mindful of to ensure that the horrors of the Nazi era are not repeated?
Dr. Alexander Verdnik is a historian, editor, and author. He teaches history and political education as well as biographical work at the Fachschule für Sozialberufe in Wolfsberg. Additionally, he works at the Museum im Lavanthaus and is a freelance editorial contributor to the “kaz” (Kärntner Allgemeine Zeitung) and the “Kleine Zeitung.”
